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WEST VIRGINIA 2 : Center - Charleston; Eastern Panhandle

An economically diverse district, the Democratic 2nd stretches across the mountainous state from the Ohio border and ends in the Eastern Panhandle at Harper's Ferry. The 2nd is home to poor coal mining areas and isolated towns, as well as the more prosperous capital city and a commuting class in the Eastern Panhandle.

Charleston, the district's dominant city, is a center for chemical plants, state employees and retail shopping. Surrounding Charleston is Kanawha, the state's largest county, which retains its industrial character and leans Democratic despite a strong conservative streak. The chemical plants that provide jobs in "Chemical Valley" along the Kanawha River have raised environmental concerns among local residents. The mainly Democratic mountain regions north and east of Kanawha remain heavily dependent on coal.

Economic depression during the 1980s drove residents from the 2nd. But during the 1990s, eastern counties within commuting distance of Washington, D.C., grew rapidly. Putnam County, in the west, is the site of a Toyota factory expected to bring 800 jobs.

The 2nd is loyal to Democrats in congressional elections. Pockets of Republicans dot the district, particularly in the Panhandle, where they register in strong numbers and win some local elections.

Major Industry
Chemicals, lumber, manufacturing

Population
597,921 (1990)

Cities
Charleston, 56,098; Martinsburg, 14,541; South Charleston, 13,409 (1996)

People
62% rural; 14% age 65+ (ranks third of three in state; top third nationally); 61% married couples, 28% married couples with children; 13% college educated (ranks second of three in state; bottom third nationally); 52% white collar (ranks first of three in the state; bottom third nationally); 32% blue collar (ranks third of three in the state; top third nationally) (1990)

Race
96% white, 3% black, 0% Asian; 0% Hispanic origin (1990)

Median Household Income
$22,253 (ranks first of three in state; bottom third nationally) (1990)

Unusual Features
Abolitionist John Brown hanged after attempting to incite a slave revolt in Harper's Ferry in 1859; Longest district east of the Mississippi River.

© 2002 The Washington Post Company